Giving Day 2022: Support Students Thriving!

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 09:58:52 -0500

UMBC’s Giving Day goal this year is ambitious - 3,000 donors (including a goal of 700 parent donors) in 36 hours.

Every donation helps provide students with the tools they need to become leaders and to reach their full potential. The #BlackAndGoldRush is an opportunity to show support for our community, no matter how much you give.

We know in order for students to be successful, they need access to the basics–proper nutrition, personal care items, and financial resources. This year, Student Affairs is prioritizing our Retriever Essentials Food Pantry and Stay Black and Gold Emergency Fund. Both funds are supporting hundreds of students by helping to reduce food insecurity and providing short-term financial assistance for those who find it difficult or impossible to continue their education due to an emergency or sudden unforeseen circumstances.

As you join Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging (i3b), and the Division of Student Affairs, in our fight against food insecurity and emergency need, please also consider a gift directly to the i3b fund*. When you give to i3b you contribute to our values and commitments of Radical Love and Belonging, Social Justice Education and Development, and Equity and Advocacy to changing UMBC and the world.

i3b creates opportunities for students of all social identities to learn in spaces where they are seen, heard, and valued for their full selves.

i3b creates learning opportunities that equip the UMBC campus community with the awareness, knowledge, and skills to cultivate an inclusive campus environment, and take action against intersectional forms of systemic oppression at and beyond UMBC.

As a part of i3b, The Mosaic: Center for Cultural Diversity, The Pride Center, and The Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being, work to intentionally create a sense of belonging at UMBC for underserved and systemically marginalized students.

How your contributions make a difference:

Expanded dialogue and leadership opportunities through our IDEAL Dialogue Facilitation internship and Multicultural Leadership Experience in partnership with Campus Life.

New curriculum development to build capacity for new Interfaith Dialogues programming

In-person Black and Latine/x Graduation Ceremony in partnership with Alumni Engagement, adding to our Lavender Celebration, to recognize our graduates and their achievements, and to provide scholarships.

Your support helps i3b respond to student concerns related to expanding hours in The Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being, as well as opening additional prayer, meditation, and reflection spaces across campus.

By giving to i3b*, the Stay Black and Gold Fund or Retriever Essentials, you are doing more than supporting programming - you are joining in partnership toward an inclusive, equitable, and accessible campus community. If you would like to know more about our initiatives and programs that donors like you support, we encourage students, staff, faculty, alumnx, and other community members to stay up to date by following our social media pages, available via our Linktree.

Thank you for your partnership and your commitment to co-creating socially just futures.

*Please note that donations to this GritStarter will be going to the LGBTQ Outreach Foundation Fund at UMBC but will be dispersed across our programming, resources, and spaces. If you would like to have your funds be allocated to a particular initiative, program, and/or space, please include them in the comments in your donations.